Pages

Easy Summer Braids

11:57 AM

NOTE: Just wanted to let everyone know I just posted some new clothes in the shop. Hopefully some of the tiny girls will appreciate. :)

Hey everyone! I just wanted to share with you a hairstyle that I've been sporting for the last few months, the french braid. I'm not talking about the one plait down the back of your head that you wore in the 2nd grade. This is much more contemporary and boho-style.

You can do this a couple of ways, but my favorite is the headband-type of braid that goes across the top of your head where your bangs might be.

For this style, I first brushed my hair over from the left ear all the way to my right so it faces the same direction. It might help to create a part using a comb, parallel to your hairline, to mark where your braid will be so you don't gather hair from the back of your head. You can also tie the hair you don't want braided in a low ponytail to keep it away from the rest of your hair. Start french braiding from the left ear up toward the top of your head. The smaller pieces you use, the smaller your braid will be and vice versa.

I apologize that my photos do have so many stray hairs, but I took these at the end of a long workday!

Braid over the top of your head and down behind your right ear. You will want to be very careful about keeping the braid tight here so it doesn't become loose throughout the day. The braid will go the angle your hands pull at it, so try to keep your hands pulled back and toward your neck, not held out from your head which will cause a loose braid. Now take a sturdy hair tie and tie all of your hair into a low side ponytail. If you have stray pieces sticking out, you can use bobby pins to secure the hair tucked under the sides of the braid. Use hairspray to set the look and fix any stray baby hairs, and you are done.

The look from afar. You can curl the ends of your ponytail for a nice textural contrast to the braid. Mine was curled from the day before. Braids work best with second-day hair!

Here is another variation I did using a much smaller braid starting at my natural side-part. I added a feather headband behind it to add to the earthy feel of the look. For this, I just tied the braid behind my ear with a small hair tie and left the rest of my hair loose.

When you get the chance, you should definitely try out these looks. It's a refreshing and cute way to keep hair off your face in the hot summer heat. When you get the hang of it, it takes a very short amount of time to do too. Nothing better than a quick and stylish hairdo, am I right?

Let me know if you've been sporting braids lately. I know it's been very popular among starlets, but I just think it can be so practical too! Tell me if you love or hate this hair trend!

oh i love it :) i wish i could braid neatly, hahaha. and i wish my hair was long enough! well, it probably is but i'm completely OCD and hate stray hairs.. so i'm going to save myself the pain :P but i can live vicariously through you!

LOVE IT! I will be trying this on my much shorter hair and see where it goes. I think it will help that the front is longer than the back. Great idea and LOVE the feather headband; might steal it for a photo shoot :)

You look so pretty, omgosh. This hairstyle makes me wish I still lived with my mom. I can't french braid worth crap, and she can french braid with her eyes shut. She used to do my hair in braids all the time.

Omgosh I've wanted to do the side braid for the longest time, especially after seeing Lauren Conrad wear it all the time so beautifully on "The Hills." However, I have the most difficult time braiding sideways, and always end up braiding awkwardly diagonal/loose, and it becomes a huge mess. But this post has inspired me to try harder again this time, and maybe it will work out for me. :)

i have visited your website mutiple times now and i love your hair and makeup pix. can you also start doing ootd (outfit of the day) pix as well... and please note how tall you are so that i can see if what you wear will look even remotely cute on my short stature (5')

I don't know if I could do these for 2 reasons. I have bangs... and I was never any good at french braids or braiding close to the head. :) I will try something similar sometime though. It looks so nice on you!

I really like it. i wanna try it too! But it will be soooo nice if you'll have a vid how to do it.. coz i dont know how. i have been following your blogs just last month... and im happy to see that hairstyle ^_^ hope to see how you do it!thank you so muucch!

About me

Hi, I'm Jen! I've been blogging and making youtube videos since 2008 and have loved encouraging others to feel beautiful in their own skin ever since. I hope you enjoy my beauty tips and reviews, style inspiration, and a bit of my life as a wife and mother!